From Italy – with love
Italian language can hardly be called useful as English or German. It is told exclusively Italians – and no one else in the world. This language is taught a few linguistic students and big lovers of Italy, which this business just gives pleasure. About any benefit they do not think. Or almost do not think. The knowledge of Italian still can come in handy: first, recently we have a lot of representative offices of Italian firms, furniture salons, clothes, travel agencies. Secondly, Italy has become one of the most popular tourist routes. And if you finally gather there, the knowledge of Italian will help you very much: you can get acquainted with real Italy and its inhabitants. Believe me, only for this it is worth teaching Italian.
There are several ways to learn Italian in Italy itself. For foreigners there are open courses in private schools, Dante Alighieri cultural centers and universities. Cheapest courses – in Dante Alighieri centers, the most proven and reliable – in universities, but in private schools – the greatest design program.
Dante Aligiery Society was created by the state in order to distribute Italian and culture abroad and among foreigners in Italy. For this, centers in Rome, Florence, Milan, Reggio and Calabria were opened. Since these centers are sponsored by the state, they are very cheap. For example, courses in Milan cost 775.000 lire (about $ 770) for the full program designed for seven (!) months of classes. But these are their disadvantages: Dante Aligiery courses – extensive, stretched in time, they suggest only 4 lessons per week (there is also the so-called "Intensive", Very relative – 9 lessons per week for three months). Therefore, they study in these courses mostly those who for some reason turned out to be in Italy for a long time. Dante Alighieri courses, let’s say, are very popular among foreign diplomats.
Simple foreigners love university courses very much. Universities PER STRANIERI (Universities for foreigners, they teach Italian, culture, history and art) located in Perugia and Siena. According to statistics, it is in them that the majority of students who came to Italy learn Italian. These universities are not only teaching foreigners, but also conduct research in the field of linguistics. They developed an exam in the Italian language as a foreign and certification system Cils.
European students love universities for foreigners even because they can get a scholarship to study in them according to the Erasmus program (students of students of European countries). Russia while this program does not participate in this program, but prices in Universities per Stranieri are low in comparison with the prices of private schools of Italian. So if you do not have a lot of money, but I really want to learn Italian, choose the universities per stranieri. Especially because it is also a guarantee of quality.
During the school year, universities for foreigners offer courses lasting three and six months. They stand on average 700.000-750.000 lire (regardless of duration), not counting accommodation. Sign up for these courses must be minimal three months before they started. And immediately make a registration fee and a small deposit. This rule, by the way, is valid for most schools and courses of Italian.
University in Perugia offers monthly and two-month italian courses – ordinary (21 hours per week) and intense (30 hours per week). And at University in Siena there are summer courses. To the main lessons, the student can take additional. For example, on the history of Italian music or in economics and finances of modern Italy. At the end of the course, students pass the exam and get "Certificate of knowledge of Italian language and culture" (at lowest and medium level) or "The diploma of the Italian language and culture" (at the highest). The monthly course at the University in Perugia will cost you $$ 1.000-1.500 (with all expenses, including air ticket). That is, almost in vain: Even the cheapest Turptovka in terms of the month is worth a minimum twice as expensive.
In the summer, Italian courses open in many conventional universities (for example, in Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa). They are, by the way, also inexpensive. Here you can also save on housing and nutrition: universities offer "Summer" Students Cheap rooms in student hostels and coupons for food in student canteens.

If you did not come up with any of the above courses, – look for a private school. All sorts of centers, courses, Italian schools in Italy are enough: at sea resorts, in the mountains, in the city of monuments and t. D. Choosing a school, pay attention to whether it is in the Association of Schools of Italian Language As Foreign (Associazione Di Scuola DiTaliano Come Lingua Seconda). If the school is a member of the Association, this is indicated in all its booklets, for form and t. D. Like such organizations in other countries, the Association regularly inspects its schools. It is as if the guarantor of the quality of the School of Service.
However, from each rule there are exceptions. And a school that is not part of the Association may not be bad at all. And if you are traveling more to travel, not to learn, then you will be suitable for almost any Italian courses: for two or three hours a day for two or three days a week, without tightening, you will memorize enough useful phrases and words, make the impression of grammar and You can easily chat with Italians on the streets.
Interestingly, 22 schools from 35 members of the Association are located in the province of Tuscany, in Dante’s homeland. Explains everything is very simple. In this province, more than somewhere else, historical and cultural monuments, here is a fabulous Florence, here the Pisa Tower, famous Christian Basilica in Assisi, Siena, medieval castles. Italians understand that foreigners go to Italy not only (and not even so much) to learn the language, but also to meet the country. Therefore, they place their schools in tourist and cultural centers.
By the way, our advice to you: if you decide to go to Italian courses and want to do it as quickly as possible and without any problems, make up a tourist visa. Student (at the invitation from school or university), as they admitted to the correspondent "I" Employees of the Italian Institute of Culture (Instituto Di Cultura) in Moscow, getting very difficult, and it will take a lot of time and effort.
Certificates of the conditions for admission to the Italian language courses can be obtained in the Italian Institute of Culture in Moscow: (095) 956 6092,